THE RENAISSANCE

Origins Of The Renaissance

Main Idea: The feudal order gave way to economic and cultural changes of the Renaissance.

A. Various social classes were drawn to towns. -peasants= opportunity of paid work -nobles= opportunity to make money by buying property and holding public office

B. Rural nobility married into mercantile middle class; formed a new aristocracy -mercantile: related to commerce or trade -urban nobility spent money on building better homes, not military

C. Theology remained the most important study, but eventually secular subjects grew in popularity (math, science, law).

D. The Renaissance (Rebirth) was the rediscovery of Greek/Roman art and literature.

II. Birthplace of the Renaissance

Main Idea: The Renaissance began in wealthy Italian city-states.

A. Italian city-states were centers of trade and commerce. -promoted free flow of ideas -people were coming in contact with new customs and cultures -opened minds to new ways of doing things -wealthy became patrons to art and learning

B. The Renaissance began in Florence. -located inland, huge banking center -even the pope kept his money there -brought wealth to city -Medici=powerful banking family, also patrons

New Ways of Viewing the World

I. The "New Learning"

Main Idea: Renaissance thinkers looked to classical learning for a deeper understanding of human life.

A. Humanism- cultural movement of the Renaissance based on the study of classical works. -thought learning was not preparation for religious life, but for self improvement -sinful human beings= potential to achieve divine excellence

B. Secularism- religion does not need to be center of human affairs -life= opportunity for enjoyment and pleasure -Niccolo Machiavelli wrote The Prince, described how the leaders get power, keep power, and lose power; presented truth -written to entertain rather than promote spirituality, written in vernacular

C. Individualism- belief in importance of an individual, opposed to a community -encouraged artists and writers to seek recognition for their work -cared about identity of the creator, glorified individual

The Spread of New Ideas

I. The Renaissance Moves North

Main Idea: Northern Renaissance thinkers such as More, Erasmus, and Rabelais promoted reform.

A. Thomas More (pictured left)= Northern reformer, English scholar. -wrote Utopia, the name of his ideal society -in his book, community is governed by reason, everybody is free, educations is free, no private property B. Desiderius Erasmus= reformer, Dutch scholar -embraced moral teachings of Jesus -life and Christ's lessons should be Church doctrine model -claimed Church had abandoned Christian morality for empty ceremonies -wrote the Praise of Folly to criticize the Church's behavior, satire C. Francois Rabelais= French monk, doctor, author, scholar -wrote Gargantua Pantagruel to criticize Church and society -pointed out absurdity of traditional religion, politics, and education II. The Dissemination of Ideas

A. Block printing was inefficient, later paper was made from linen rags and used with oily ink, then movable type was created -Johann Gutenberg invented movable type, it spread throughout Europe

B. Rate of literacy rose as printing spread. -printed Bibles, medical manuals, travel accounts; many different interests -government used print to communicate with subjects -censorship increased with more books -Church insisted that all books get their approval, but this action was not effective

The Renaissance Legacy

I. Architectural and Artistic Legacy

Main Idea: the art and architecture of the Renaissance has had a lasting impact on the world.

A. Architecture was modeled on Greek and Roman creations. -Column, round arch, and dome= popular features. -Created beauty through harmony and proportion.